St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-06-09


any more lawyers there. 1t will be re-
membered that the capital of Pennsyl-
vania was removed from Lancaster in
1872, to Harrisburg on the left bank of
the Susquehanna, which place had re-
Gently emerged from it's natural wild
state, to one of great activity and fat
tering prospects. Soon after the above
events, there was the valuable discov-
cry of those illimitable and inexhaust-
IDLE fields of anthracite coal, which
created the most indescribable excite
ment, not only in Pennsylvania but in
all parts of our country, and promised
to revOlutionize the former state of all
business operations and would also in
troduce thousands of new branches OF
business. The magnitude and certain
ty of that rising tide of great wealth
and general prosperity were too Obvi-
Gus to escape the notice of Stevens
and therefore he went and established
himself in Harrisburg, but transacted
much business in Lancaster, which
was near by, and also in several other
places. That new boom there made
lively times for lawyers, spectators
and indeed for everything. Mr.. Stew
ems was extensively engaged in mining
and in iron manufacturing and in
speculatiOns in real estate and other
things. He was very successful in all
his schemes for making money, and
ultimately became very wealthy.
Stevens caused an elegant monument
to be erected at the grave of his moth
er in Peacham, which town he Occa-
sionally visited, as also his numerous
relatives in Danville, where he deliv-
cred an grafton on the 4th of July,
1928. 1t was an appropriate, able and
interesting production, and was deliv-
cred in a pleasing, dignified, spirited
and effective manner.
In 1881 L saw Mr.. Stevens for the
last time, when he spent several days
in visiting his brother DR.. Morrill,
Stevens, whose residence then was but
few rods from my own, in the village
of st. JOhnsbury. Stevens was then
80 years old, and it was difficult for me
to realize that large dignitied appear
ing gentleman of $50 pounds, was the
same unfortunate, puDy, weak, sorrow
full and pitiable Thad Stevens who had
been my schOOl-mate for several years.
Stevens was then in possession of a
splendid fortune, and came from Har-
risburg alone in his own elegant close
covered carriage, drawn by a pair of
splendid horses, which were driven by
cOlored man, who also performed all
kinds of mental service for his master,
whose exalted and princely style were
unlike Thad Stevens of 25 years before.
His great weight and the disease and
weakness of his lower limbs, rendered
it extremely difficult for him to walk
ol, cd
In process of time Mr.. Stevens found
himself in the U. S. Congress, where
he remained long time, where he
was very prominent figure and an
active public servant during the most
exciting, critical and important period
in our country's history. 1t was then
Gf never before) that the public be-
came acquainted with certain charac-
teristics of that great man which have
immOrtalized his name and acts, for
which he then received the name or
title of cold COmmOner."
He was not of the nobility, neither
by birth, education nor principles, but
was of and from the common people,
by, and for whom he acted, with strict
fidelity and impartiality in maintain
ing the rights of all grades, ranks and
conditions of the human family before
God and man. He used very fOrcible
and pointed language, and earnest eff
forts against those who attempted to
destroy the government.
Mr.. Stevens had nervous, emotional
temperament, quick perceptive facul-
ties and positive convictions. 1t was
extremely difficult to induce him to
change his opinions, which he believed
were founded on correct principles,
and were part and parcel of his own
peculiar organism and interest in his
nature.
Mr.. Stevens was vigorous and en-
thusiastic debater, and used strong
impressive language, which had free
and easy flow, and he was so intensely
in earnest that his style appeared to
be dOgmatical, but his political Oppo-
nents admitted that he possessed re-
markable high order of natural and
acquired abilities, and that he was
true to his convictions of duty. When
ever that gigantic mass of flesh and
brains stood upon the floor of con-
gress to speak, then friends and foes
were sure to give close attention.
Then every muscle and fibre of his
whole being were aroused, by his sup
posed Importance of the subject mat
ter under consideration, and then his
imprisoned fervOr pervaded the deep
est sensibilities of his emotional ma
ture.
The time finally came when that
much distinguished statesman and or
ator, with his mighty intellect and I'M
yielding will, found his physical pow
er was unable to sustain and carry
about his great weight of flesh but
Notwithstanding his inability to stand
or walk, the prOmptings of his ardent
desires and fixed determination to dis
charge his duty were such, that he
caused himself to be carried upon a
couch to and from the capitol every
day, and performed all his remaining
duties in congress, while lying down
on his couch, because unable to sit up.
Mr.. Stevens died August 11th, 1865.
When Homer, the ancient poet died,
seven cities cOntended for the honor
of being his birthplace, and 1t was
somewhat so when Mr.. Stevens died,
for the reason that Danville, Peacham
and Barnet, each claimed the honor of
being the birth place of that celebrat-
ed statesman, which demonstrations
were sufficient proofs of the popularity
of that man. Some of the Peacham
people still claim that Stevens was
certainly born in their town.
l have no personal interest in this
controversy, because l was not born
in any part of Vermont. A late num-
Der of the Troy Press contains an
elaborate description OF the last rest
ing place and a monument of Mr..
Stevens in Lancaster, Penn. Stevens